Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I love living on Silly Goose Farm because I get to live here with this guy:﻿

Dave and I celebrated our ﻿third wedding anniversary on Sunday (May 29th). We had a nice dinner at the American Hotel in neighboring town Sharon Springs, and this weekend we'll be taking our first-ever anniversary trip to Boston (we almost moved to Boston until we stumbled upon the farm). I could go on and on about how wonderful Dave is, but I'll just sum it up by saying I am very very lucky that he chose me for his wife.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Now that spring is here and the weather is beautiful (save for all the rain we've been having), it's time to re-instate Sundays on the Sunporch. This is one of my favorite little traditions Dave and I have started for our family. Just lazing around on the sunporch, testing out a new breakfast/brunch recipe with a full pot of French Press, and enjoying each other's company.

Yesterday, Edith and I tried our hands at homemade three berry "Pop-Tarts." I think deep-down we all secretly love Pop-Tarts (or the childhood nostalgia that surrounds them). This recipe provides a glimpse into the classic shelf-stable breakfast food but elevates it to something you can actually feel good about eating. If you prefer, you can make a simple milk glaze (two parts confectioners sugar to one part milk - whisk until smooth) to drizzle on top of the pastries once cooled slightly, but I like them straight-up.

2. In a large bowl, combine dough allowances of flour, salt, and white sugar. Whisk to combine. Cut-in butter using a pastry blender or hands.

3. Add water (but not ice!) a tablespoon at a time. Add/reduce recommended about based on the point the dough just forms a ball.

4. Cover dough an refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

5. In a new bowl, mix filling ingredients together, macerating the berries slightly to release juice. Be sure flour is well-mixed with berries.

6. Once dough is chilled, remove and roll out into a large rectangle 1/4-inch thick (cut dough in half if needed and roll each half separately). Be sure the rolling pin and surface are both well-floured.

7. Using a knife or pastry wheel, cut dough into twelve rectangles.

8. Mix egg with heavy cream to form an egg wash. Brush egg wash onto the edges of all dough rectangles.

9. Spoon filling onto half of the dough rectangles. Cover with other half of dough rectangles. Push edges together with fingers, then crimp or seal with the tines of a fork.

10. Brush remaining egg wash on the top of the pastries. Sprinkle with raw sugar. Pierce the top of the pastries with a knife to make three small steam holes.

11. Place pastries on prepared baking sheets, bake for 10-15 minutes or until edges and golden brown.

Pastries can be wrapped in waxed paper, stored in a Ziploc bag or storage container, and placed in the freezer for up to three months. They can be re-heated in the oven or in the toaster (it might take two "rotations" in the toaster if frozen). I think I might also make these for a summertime dinner party with a sprig of fresh mint and homemade vanilla ice cream as a dessert! Ooo, the possibilities.

** Do not hesitate to use frozen berries. In my opinion, it is better to pick (or buy) fresh fruit locally and freeze it (or buy bags of frozen fruit from the grocer) than to buy fresh supermarket berries grown halfway around the world. Fresh doesn't always mean better!

Well, I would normally say I hope you have a great weekend, but today I'm hoping you had a great weekend! Dave had some time off last week (the spring semester and graduation have ended, and today marks the beginning of summer sessions), so I put client work aside for a few days and we took a mini-staycation with the kids. We had planned to rent a place in Lake George, NY, but the weatherman predicted rain all week, so we decided to just vacation at home and take day-trips around the area. We visited two of our favorite towns in the Hudson Valley (Rhinebeck and Red Hook (we get our coffee from a great local roaster there)) and also headed East to Stockbridge, MA. The rest of the weekend was devoted to yardwork and movies and bocce. Here are a few pictures from our excursions.

We bought Edith this bucket for playing outside - she insisted on wearing it as a hat

Monday, May 16, 2011

I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden. ~Ruth Stout

There are many ways to garden. Some people buy plants from a nursery or garden center, which is a great option for many. I have done this in the past, primarily with annuals flowers (like pansies and petunias), tomatoes and peppers.* This year, I decided to try my hand at starting my own seeds. Here's a little how-to for those looking to do the same.

What you need:
Seeds
Growing Medium
Containers (preferrably with a clear glass or plastic cover)
Light and warmth
Water

1. Do some research and math. GASP! Did you actually think gardening required math? Remember your high school calc teacher telling you over and over again that you might actually need this information someday? Well, you don't need calculus, but you will need some simple math skills. Think about a realistic date when you will be able to plant your seedlings in your garden. Then examine the germination and maturity rates. Some plants (like rosemary) need up to three weeks to germinate; others (like tomatoes) only need about 7 days. Maturity rates are often several weeks. Work backwards from the date when you want to plant your garden (my rule of thumb is around Memorial Day weekend, when the threat of frost in the Northeast has ended). This means I need to start my seedlings (most of them) around mid-April so that I can have tomatoes come July.

2. Find the best planting solution for your situation. I have two sunporches that retain a lot of heat in the spring. Pair that with the seed starting kit I use, and it makes for great growing conditions. I selected a tray growing container that nestles into a bottom compartment to drain excess water and circulate air around the roots and includes a clear plastic cover that helps create a warm, humid environment for seedlings (which aids germination). Sounds expensive, doesn't it. Don't worry, it only cost me $8, I think. Seed starting takes space, so you will need a shelving unit or flat surface on which to place your seedling trays. You can also use basic pots and planters, but you will want to make sure they can produce humidity. Here's a trick - cover the top with plastic wrap, and remove/replace for watering. My sunporches generate a decent amount of heat, and I place my trays on the ledge near the windows (see picture below). During the day, I'll sometimes move them outside to get more light and generate more heat. Seeds love moisture/humidity to germinate, so try to encourage this environment as best possible. Other solutions include greenhouses (small, portable greenhouses are available for purchase at big-box stores and online), on a kitchen windowsill, in cold frames, or under a grow lamp.

My seedling trays

3. Plant your seeds. This is pretty straight-forward. Some seeds require different planting depths, so make sure to read the back of the seed packet for more info. My preferred method of planting is using a good, organic seed-starting mix (NOT gardening soil!). Other methods include peat/soil pellets that come dry (you just insert the seed and add water). These can typically be placed right into the ground once the seedling is ready for transplate. There are also compressed peat moss pots that require soil, but can also be directly planted in the garden when the seedling is ready. Hydroponic plantings are also popular, though I cannot speak to the effectiveness of this method, as I have never tried it. I like the black plastic seedling trays featured in the above picture, as it retains heat in the soil well (probably better than any other method). Add about an inch of soil, then your seeds (for larger plants, add one see per cell. Most other seeds (tomatoes, peppers, herbs) can be planted two to five seeds per cell). These plants can be divided once crowding becomes an issue. After seeds are added to the soil, cover with more soil (generally 1/4 - 1/2 inch) and water thoroughly. You'll need to water every day until seed germinate.

Also, be sure the seeds you are planting actually want to be seed-started in this manner. Some seeds are direct-sow, meaning you are better off planting them right into the garden. Direct-sow plants include lettuces, kale, spinach (and other leafy greens), radishes, peas, and beans. Basically, any other seeds can be started indoors. Check the back of the seed packet for more specific planting information.

4. Fertilize and Water. Once seeds have germinated, only water once the soil is dry. Too much water/moisture can cause root-rot or mold on the seedlings. The general rule of thumb for fertilization is not to do it until seedlings have developed a second set of leaves (which usually happens 3-4 weeks after germination). Look for a complete organic fertilizer that has trace compounds to ensure seedlings get all necessary nutrients. Seedlings are delicate and cannot handle a full-dose of fertilizer, so dilute the fertilizer to a half-dose with water. Seaweed or kelp extracts and fish emulsions are great for seedlings and help them mature quickly and fruitfully. Again, you will need to dilute these as to not overpower little seedlings.

5. Transplant. Some seedings might get leggy and spindly, which means they are ready to move to a bigger growing environment. Many factors contribute to transplate rates. The back of the seed packet will give you specific information on when to move seedlings to your garden. Transplant factors include the outgrowth of the planting cell or overcrowding (if you plant more than one seed per cell), and garden environment (that is, if the weather is condusive for gardening and the threat of frost is over). If the seedings have outgrown cells, but are not ready for the outdoor garden, simply move into bigger pots or cells. Be careful to maintin delicate root systems. Use small gardening tools (or old kitchen spoons and forks) to ease the seedling out of its cell.

If you garden using containers, you can plant your seeds directly in your containers, keep inside or in a greenhouse until seeds have germinated, then move the containers outside when seedling are ready. This saves a few steps!

﻿
If you have specific questions related to seed starting, please email me or leave a comment and I will try to respond as best possible. Good luck!

*If you choose to buy plants to put in containers or your garden, try to buy from a reputable source or local grower. Some studies have shown that the "great tomato blight" of 2009 was caused by a bad batch of plants from big-box gardening stores.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

I love living at Silly Goose Farm because we have amazing neighbors. Our neighbor. Mr. Dykeman, sold me about 30 gallon and half-gallon glass growlers (at 50 cents a piece!) from his barn sale this weekend, as well as about 10 of the vintage green juice jars featured above (with original caps!). These growlers are perfect for cider-making this fall. I told Mr. Dykeman I was looking to explore homebrewing, and he said he used to make gallons and gallons of beer and wine "back in the day," and offered to teach me all I needed to know and use all of his equipment (bonus! I won't have to invest much money!). He also said that a lot of the area around our house was prime hop-growing property, and I'd probably be able to grow my own hops easily. Awesome! I can't wait to experience the tutelage of Mr. Dykeman, and am so grateful we have kind and generous neighbors like him.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

It has been a few weeks since I posted some Sustainable Snippets, so this week's version is super-sized! Also, I have noticed that this is becoming a repository for foodie articles, as well, so I hope you don't mind the addition of more food- and cooking-related articles. Here goes:

Hope you all have a great weekend! Any plans? Dave (a college professor) is tied-up with commencement ceremonies today, so the kids and I are gearing up to go for a walk up the road to check out our neighbor's alpaca farm, then I have a busy day of cleaning/organizing the attic and basement. Fun. My AMAZING friend Kelly is moving to NYC at the end of the month (sad face) and her going-away party is Sunday. I'm going to miss that girl, but thankfully she is only a quick train-ride away!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Hi friends! Did you think I died? Nope, just been out living life and staying busy. I guess that's good for blogging, right? If we didn't live our lives, what would we blog about? Okay, maybe that's not entirely true. Perhaps it is just something I tell myself in order to erase the guilt of being off the blog for so long. Add this to the "Lies We Tell Ourselves to Make Ourselves Feel Better" file.

Well, things have been pretty good around here. Had a couple birthday to celebrate, took a mini-vacation with Dave, everyone was sick in there somewhere, the usual. In the past week, everything in the outside world seems to have exploded in color here on Silly Goose Farm, and I thought I'd share some photos with you.

The orchard:

Apple trees

Wowie, the grass is getting high! Guess it's time to let the cows out.

I love how old and tangled some trees are

A rose bush grows under one apple tree. I should probably move it

Blurry close-up of apple blossom buds

Pure white pear blossoms

I imagine these pear trees are close to (if not more than) 100 years old

Eastern Red Bud blossoms

In a few days, this whole tree will be the prettiest shade of mauve

Soon, we will be chopping down the arborvitae that surround the

Eastern Red Bud - they are too big to transplant and engulf the Red Bud

Pretty little violets leading into the sunporch

Rhubarb! We have several patches

Purple lilacs near the kitchen window. White lilacs line the driveway.

The smell is heavenly!

The barn will be getting a facelift this summer (and all that wood

will be stacked inside for next winter)

Barn cats and farm babies

We've got lots of other blooms starting to sprout on the farm, I'll share more pictures soon! I hope your spring is a lovely one!﻿

Subscribe To Silly Goose Farm!

What is Silly Goose Farm?

Silly Goose Farm is a guide for stylish, sustainable living. Regardless of income, time, resources, or housing situation, Silly Goose Farm believes everyone should be able to lead an eco-conscious, socially responsible life without a feeling of pretense - and have fun while doing it!